Question

(i) Name the main components of environment.

(ii) Classify the household waste into different types.

(iii) List any two harmful effects of non-biodegradable wastes.

Answer 1

(i)

Environment:

1. It is the surrounding of an organism or a thing.
2. It includes different components.
3. The components of the environment interact with each other and stay in balance.

Two main components of the environment:

1. Physical-world: This component contains physical characteristics of the environment or physical surroundings. Example: the air, water, ground, or soil
2. Biological world: This component includes the living things present in the surroundings. Example: plants, microorganisms, animals.

(ii)

Waste and its types:

1. The materials that become useless and are discarded after use are called waste.
2. The waste can be household (domestic), industrial, or agricultural.
3. The waste is generated from domestic human activities in the residential areas.
4. These can be of different types depending upon how long they can persist or stay in an environment.
5. The two types are biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.

Biodegradable waste:

1. This waste is degraded or decomposed by microorganisms naturally. Hence, they do not stay for a long period in the environment.
2. These are usually natural substances derived from organisms.
3. Examples of waste: paper, cotton, leather, wool, clothes, fruits and vegetable peels, tea leaves.

Non-biodegradable waste:

1. This cannot be broken down by microorganisms or biological processes. Therefore, they stay for a long period in the environment and usually become pollutants.
2. These are usually artificial or man-made substances.
3. Examples of waste: glass, pen refills, plastic, mercury, insecticide, polythene bags, synthetic fibers.

(iii)

Non-biodegradable wastes:

1. The non-biodegradable waste cannot be broken down by the activities of the microorganisms, into harmless components.
2. These remain in the environment for a long time.

Harmful effects:

1. Reduction in soil fertility or contamination of the ecosystems: The contamination by the waste reduces the fertility of the soil.
2. Affecting health of the living beings: Since the waste does not get reduced, it accumulates in the environment and can enter the food chain through the contamination of the ecosystems. This can cause bio-magnification as well.